The City of Savannah and its partners will mark the completion of the Dundee Cottages housing development with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 16 at 10 a.m. The project adds 39 affordable cottages intended for individuals and families who are homeless, transitioning out of homelessness, or at risk of losing their homes.
Dundee Cottages is located next to The Cove at Dundee and was developed through collaboration between the City of Savannah, Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority (LBA), Community Housing Services Agency (CHSA), CHSA Development, Inc., and the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH). Funding came from local public and private sources, including investments from the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF).
Each cottage is furnished and includes a kitchenette, bathroom, built-in bed, storage space, and front porch. Monthly rents will range from $650 to $850 and include utilities. The site also features a caretaker’s house and a resident services building with amenities such as a computer lab, laundry facilities, commercial kitchen, dining hall, meeting spaces, and consultation rooms. On-site programming will offer educational opportunities, life skills training, healthcare access, and other support services.
As part of the Housing Savannah Action Plan adopted in 2021 by City Council, the city provided the vacant lot at 65 Dundee St., valued at $200,000. The LBA received this property in 2022 to facilitate development. CHSA Development oversaw design and construction after being granted a long-term ground lease by the LBA. The city invested $3.5 million from SPLOST VII funds for utility and roadway infrastructure work that enabled construction to begin.
Upon completion—at a total cost of $6.42 million—CSAH assumed management responsibilities by acquiring the property from CHSA Development using SAHF funding and other financing sources. CSAH furnished the cottages with volunteer help and now manages both operations and resident services on site.
The Dundee Cottages development sits adjacent to The Cove at Dundee. This earlier initiative was originally known as Savannah’s Veterans Tiny House Project—the first project of its kind in Georgia—and has served as a national model for veteran housing solutions. Since opening with 46 tiny homes and shared amenities, it has housed over 165 veterans.
A public ribbon cutting event will be held at Dundee Cottages on October 16 at 10 a.m., located at 64 Dundee St.
According to information provided by project partners:
– The City contributed surplus land valued at $200,000.
– Infrastructure improvements were funded through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) totaling about $3.54 million.
– Building construction received support from SAHF ($2.2 million) and CHSA ($485,889).
– The LBA facilitated development by providing a transferable long-term ground lease.
– CHSA Development engaged GM Shay Architects and KJS General Contractor for design and construction work.
– CSAH acquired completed buildings using SAHF funds along with other financing sources.
“Together with community partners, CSAH is building a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring,” according to information released by CSAH.
For more details about CHSA’s work in affordable housing finance in Chatham County or their programs supporting economic mobility for families visit chsainc.org.
